Show Notes
Navigating Family Dynamics and Therapist Self-Care in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)In this insightful episode, Michael Preston and EFT trainer Sarah McConnell explore the nuances of working with family systems, shifting from couple to family therapy, and maintaining therapist resilience. This conversation offers practical frameworks and reflections for therapists seeking to deepen their understanding and effectiveness in EFT.Main Topics: Transitioning from couples to family therapy: hierarchy vs. equality Stages of EFFT and their focus on caregiver availability and child blocks Validating behaviors in family sessions: tracking and understanding responses Managing self-awareness and self-care as a therapist in complex sessions Simplifying EFT process for ongoing growth and managing messy sessions Recognizing and working with pursuer and withdrawer cycles Building secure attachment through responsive caregiving Resources and upcoming trainings in EFT and EFFT models Sarah shares her perspective on shifting from couple to family models and the importance of understanding stages in EFFT Discussion on how attachment principles underpin family work, emphasizing caregiver availability Techniques for validating different behaviors and keeping the focus on process during family sessions Practical advice for therapists to stay grounded and self-compassionate when sessions become complicated The significance of ongoing practice, reflection, and community engagement in mastering EFT skills
To Learn more about Joining the EFT Deliberate Practice Group that will start in JULY, Go to: www.michaelprestonlpc.com/tango
To learn about working with Sarah McConnell visit: https://www.beftcentre.org/
As always to work with EFT Trainers Michael Barnett or Dr. Silvina Irwin visit their websites: www.MichaelBarnettlpc.com www.DrSilvinaIrwin.com
To work with EFT Supervisor Michael Preston visit his website: www.MichaelPrestonLPC.com
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More from The Emotionally Focused Therapy Podcast
In this conversation, Michael Preston and Ed Peterson explore the intersection of addiction and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). They discuss the importance of understanding addiction through an attachment lens, viewing it as a protective strategy rather than a moral failing. The dialogue emphasizes the emotional experiences of individuals struggling with addiction and the impact on their relationships. They also address the challenges therapists face when working with couples where substance use is present, highlighting the need for compassion and understanding in the therapeutic process. In this conversation, Ed Peterson and Michael Preston delve into the complexities of addiction, emotional responses, and the importance of attunement in therapy. They discuss the challenges faced by partners of individuals struggling with addiction, the need for compassion, and the significance of understanding underlying emotional needs.
Andrea Medaris on pacing EFT with trauma, disorganized attachment, and keeping couples in the window of toleranceMichael Preston talks with Andrea Medaris of EFT Maine about working with couples where trauma is in the room, how to pace EFT without becoming too cautious, and how to stay present when both partners are getting activated at once. Andrea also shares how she supports newer EFT learners through residency cohorts and why supervision matters so much in trauma work.In this episode, they focus on how developmental trauma shapes attachment, how to recognize flooding and disorganized attachment in session, and how to keep making room for both partners without losing the cycle. Andrea also discusses the role of transparency, validation, and constant check-ins when working near the edge of a client’s tolerance.
Deliberate Practice in EFT:
EFT externships, LGBTQ+ therapy, and dementia: What therapists need to know!
Michael Preston talks with Laurie Watson about why sex belongs in couples therapy from the very first session, how sexual and emotional cycles intersect, and how attachment shapes desire, vulnerability, and repair. Laurie shares a practical EFT lens for understanding sexual pursuer-withdrawer patterns, coercion, shame, affair recovery, and how therapists can normalize sexual conversation without taking over the couple’s work.